Hair Diameter in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

In the 2006 study, researchers found that hair in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was significantly thinner than in healthy controls. The study involved 57 female SLE patients with an average age of 32, 77 female RA patients with an average age of 50, and 75 healthy female controls with an average age of 27. Hair thickness was measured using a light microscope and a micrometer by two independent observers. The results indicated no significant difference in hair thickness between SLE and RA patients, but both groups had significantly thinner hair than the healthy controls, even after adjusting for age. The study suggested the need for further research to determine the effects of disease activity, therapy, and other factors on hair diameter in SLE patients.